Americans Are Clueless About Education Spending

Do you know how much, on average, Americans spend on each of the more than 46 million students in the country’s public schools?

It’s about $11,000. But only 15% of respondents to a new poll could estimate the correct range of per-pupil spending. That’s according to a study released this month by EdChoice, the new name of the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice.

The “2016 Schooling in America Survey: Public Opinion on K–12 Education and School Choice” also finds that 9% of respondents say “education” is the most important issue facing the nation. That’s down from 17% in last year’s survey. The issues named as top priorities are “economy and jobs” (33%) and healthcare (12%). Immigration, values, crime, taxes, environment and housing all finished in the single digits.

Of course, some districts go way over that national average. In the Hoboken, N.J., school district, the cost per-pupil is nearly double the average, at $23,561. School administrators and the majority on the elected school board argue that the tax levy has to go up about 4% to cover new costs. Like? Nine new teachers at a high school that has lost 20% enrollment over the past 5 years.

When asked how much they thought was being spent in the nation’s public schools, about 21% of respondents to the poll pegged it at $4,000 or less per student. Another 26% couldn’t even make a guess.

Respondents tended to under-estimate spending. Those who were given the actual figures, however, were less like to say it is “too low.”

Another finding in the survey is that 62% of Americans believe K-12 education is on the “wrong track,” which is up from 60% last year. On the other hand, 24% say education is headed in the “right direction,” down from 32% last year.

“Three subgroups are significantly more likely to say ‘wrong track’ than the national average: Republicans (75%), those from rural areas (73%), and whites (69%),” write the authors, Paul DiPerna and Andrew D. Catt. “Small town residents (30%) are more likely to say “right direction” than their counterparts in rural areas (19%).”

Their other findings include:

• When it comes to a preferred school type, 42% would choose a private school as their first option to enroll their child. A regular public school was chosen by 28%, 11% would choose a charter school and 10% would choose homeschooling. The reality is that about 83% of K-12 students attend public school, 10% go to private schools, 5% attend charters and perhaps just under 3% are home-schooled.

• When it comes to charter schools, they are favored by 59% of respondents and opposed by 23%.

• On the subject of tuition vouchers, 56% of Americans say they support them while 28% don’t support them.

• Education savings accounts, one of the newest forms of school choice, are favored by 49% of respondents while 27% oppose them.

• Tax-credit scholarship programs are supported by 55% of respondents but opposed by 23%.

I am combining my lives as a journalist, school board member and parent to cover education, primarily from kindergarten through high school. I worked for news organizations in Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, New Jersey and Florida before moving to South Africa and covering ...